As the new school year approaches, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) and Awake In America encourage parents and kids to put healthy sleep on the list of back-to-school necessities. NSF and Awake In America recommend gradually adjusting sleep schedules in order to be alert and energized as well as to assure optimal learning, participation and health.
“Kids tend to sleep and wake up later during the summer, making the transition to the school-year sleep schedule difficult,” explains Awake In America’s President, Michele Narcavage. “As tempting as it is to enjoy sleeping late in the final days of summer break, getting up earlier for school will be much easier if kids begin adjusting their sleep schedules now.”
All children — even adolescents — need more sleep than adults. According to NSF’s 2004 and 2006 Sleep in America polls, which focused on children aged 0–10 and 11–17 respectively, most kids in the U.S. do not get the amount of sleep experts recommend. Optimal sleep is essential to children’s health, safety, and academic performance and kids who do not sleep well are more likely to have behavioral problems and face academic challenges.
“Adequate sleep is just as important to kids’ health and well-being as diet and exercise,” says Ms. Narcavage. “Inadequate sleep can lead to attention and mood problems in children and sleepiness increases the likelihood of drowsy driving crashes, which are particularly common among drivers aged 25 and younger. Adequate sleep also facilitates learning and improves memory, both vital to improving academic performance as well as optimizing participation in social and athletic activities.”
Parents may also find themselves unprepared for the sleep challenges that the new school year brings. Many need to wake up earlier in order to pack lunches, drive their kids to school, or help them get to the bus stop on time. This is particularly true of mothers, many of whom are already sleep-deprived. NSF’s 2007 Sleep in America poll revealed that 60 percent of women in the U.S. report only getting a good night’s sleep a few nights a week or less, leaving them time-pressed, stressed-out and too tired for romance and spending time with their friends.
NSF and Awake In America recommend these sleep tips to help parents and children start the school year strong:
- Gradually adjust to earlier sleep and wake schedules ten days to two weeks before school begins. This will set biological clocks to the new schedule.
- Keep a regular sleep schedule, and avoid extremes on weekends. Having a regular bedtime increases the likelihood that kids — including teens — will get optimal sleep.
- Establish a relaxing bedtime routine. Reading before bed is a good choice for kids of all ages and for parents.
- Create a sleep environment that is cool, quiet, dimly lit, and comfortable.
- Keep television, video games, and other electronics out of the bedroom. NSF’s 2006 Sleep in America poll* revealed that having electronic devices in the bedroom is associated with an increased risk of falling asleep in class and while doing homework. Eliminate exposure to electronic media (television, video, and computer games etc.) within an hour of bedtime.
- Limit caffeine, especially after lunchtime.
- Eat well and exercise.
NSF’s 2006 poll also showed an awareness gap between kids and their parents. While more than half of adolescents reported not getting the sleep they need, 90 percent of parents felt that their adolescent was getting enough sleep. Parents should talk to their children about their sleep and seek help for any sleep problems that may arise.
Here are more sleep-smart pointers from NSF and Awake In America for parents:
- Be an example. By practicing good sleep habits, your kids are less likely to adopt bad ones.
- Talk to your kids about the importance of healthy sleep and the consequences of sleepiness, including drowsy driving.
- Recognize that children — including teens — need more sleep than adults.
- Children who have difficulty waking in the morning on more than three days a week or who snore may not be getting adequate or should be evaluated by a specialist.
- Establish a one–hour “electronic-free” time before bedtime.
- Ask teachers whether your child is alert or sleepy during class and take steps to improve your child’s sleep if you feel that he or she may have a sleep problem.
* = Individuals may download files from the Awake In America site, but access is restricted to site members only. Register free on the Awake In America site as a member to gain access. Once registered, simply login and return to this page to download the files.
File downloads
2006 Sleep In America Poll (Teens and Sleep) (621.4 KiB, 485 hits)
2007 Sleep In America Poll (Women and Sleep) (446.4 KiB, 723 hits)
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/Sleep News – Children and Sleep/healthy-sleep-is-key-to-true-back-to-school-success/2008-08-21.1325
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